1. All public schools and education district offices in the Western Cape Province are reminded that the current term of office of school governing bodies (SGBs) will expire in 2009.
2. The Heads of Education Departments Committee (HEDCOM) has given approval for the next round of new school governing body elections to be held in June 2009. All public schools must hold SGB elections in 2009, they are advised to start preparing for it now.
3. Public schools and education district offices have been supplied with copies of the amended Measures relating to Governing Bodies for all Ordinary Public Schools (Provincial Gazette Extraordinary 6519 of 20 May 2008) and Measures relating to Governing Bodies for all Public Schools for Learners with Special Education Needs (Provincial Gazette Extraordinary 6554 of 12 September 2008). It is important that principals and education district officials acquaint themselves with the amendments. It is also important to take note of the different roles and the responsibilities schools and education district offices have to fulfil in the period before, during and after the elections.
4. The SGB elections in the province will be co-ordinated and monitored by three task teams, namely a provincial electoral team, district electoral teams and school electoral teams, which will be appointed in conjunction with the stakeholders. The Head of Department has approved the appointment of Mr R. Larney (021-4672337) as the Provincial co-ordinator to lead the provincial electoral team, which will be inclusive of different stakeholders, while the district directors will be responsible for the constitution of the district electoral teams and the coordination of the constitution of the school electoral teams. The roles of the different electoral teams are set out in Annexure A. Further information in this regard will be provide at a later stage. The co-operation of all role players in this process will be appreciated , as this office must provide regular feedback on the progress of the preparation for the SGB elections to the national Department of Education.
5. Principals of public schools will once again be trained as electoral officers to manage the election of SGBs. Further details will be forwarded to you in due course.
6. Principals are also requested to inform this office, via their education district offices of the dates, not later than 30 January 2009, on which governing body elections will take place for their schools.
7. The WCED realises that the election of governing bodies is a huge exercise and we count on the co-operation of everyone involved to make it a success. Should you require further information you can contact Mr I Morkel or Mr A Brierley at telephone numbers 021-467 2768 or 021-467 2210, or by faxing your queries to fax number 021- 467 2996 or 021- 467 2565.


SIGNED: HA LEWIS
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2008:12:09

Annexure A  (size: 16 KB)